Fossils of Little Stave Creek

The section of Little Stave Creek we visited is on private property near Jackson, Alabama, exposing one of the better sections of the lower Cenozoic rock in the Alabama-Mississippi-Louisiana area. It presents an outstanding outcrop of the Gosport Sand formation, considered to be at the top of the Middle Eocene Era. At the base of this outcrop is a greenish clay where shark teeth are found. Above this is a mass accumulation of silt, sand and shells. It appears that this was the site of a huge deposit and burial of shells, probably shoved into a bank or reef by a storm some 45 million years ago. The diversity of species is quite high. Clams and snails are the most abundant and afford the widest varity of species. Also to be found are scaphopods, corals, barnacles, fish bones, shark teeth, worm tubes, bryozoan and echinoids. On occasion a mammal bone may be discovered. Over the years collectors have undercut the cliff, in search of shark teeth, leaving a deep trench. I feel this will soon, if it hasn't already, colaspe. When I collect here I bring a kitchen colander and scoop the fallen debris into it then dip it in the shallow creek and begin sifting to find my treasures.

The property owner passed away several years ago and I lost contact with the family. I do not know if the family allows people to visit the site anymore. I remember the wife telling me that the children wanted them to stop letting people go there. Please do not email me requesting directions to the site.

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	Crassatella alta
	Venericardia alticostata
	Turritella carinata palmerae
	Buccitriton sagenum
	Athleta sayana
	Calyptraphorus velatus
	Agaronia alabamensis
	Lacinia alveata
	Pseudoliva vetusta

The free background music you once enjoyed, "Journey to the Island", from "Jurassic Park" has been removed due to BMI requiring I pay $264 a year to play the music.

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